ccording to Enright this was not part of their
scheme, but merely an accident of which they took advantage. How true
this is will never be known unless we discover Cavendish, and learn his
story. Now, if he is alive, where has he been concealed, and for what
purpose? Another thing begins to loom up. The mere hiding of the man
was all right so long as the conspirators were not suspected. But now
when they are aware that they are being followed, what is likely to
happen? Will they become desperate enough to kill their victim, hoping
thus to destroy absolutely the evidence of their crime? Will their
vengeance also include Miss Donovan?"

"Not unless they can get you out of the way first," decided the marshal
grimly. "That is Lacy's most important job--you are more dangerous to
them now than the girl. That meeting to-day was prearranged, and
Beaton was expected to land you. That was why he hid behind the
curtain, but something caused him to make a false move; they never
expected you to put up that sort o' fight, Jim, for nobody knew yer in
this camp fer a fightin' man. But what's yer theory 'bout Cavendish?
Let's leave the dead man in New York go, an' get down ter cases."

"I figure it out like this, Dan. I believe Fred got my telegram, and
decided to come out here at once without telling anybody what his plans
were. All he did was to make a will, so as to dispose of his property
in case anything happened. His employing Enright for that job
unfortunately put the whole thing in the hands of this crowd. They
were ready to act, and they acted. Beaton must have taken the same
train, and the two men got friendly; probably they never knew each
other in New York, but, being from the same place, it was easy enough
to strike up an acquaintance. What occurred on board is all guesswork,
but a sudden blow at night, on an observation platform, at some desert
station, is not impossible; or it might be sickness, and the two men
left behind to seek a physician. Here was where Lacy must have come
in. He goes East occasionally, doesn't he?"

"Sure; come to think of it he was in New York 'bout three months ago on
some cattle deal, an' I heard he had an agent there sellin' wildcat
minin' stock. There ain't no doubt in my mind but he knew some o'
these fellers. They wouldn't 'a' planned this unless they had some
cache fixed out yere in this country--that's plain as a wart on the
nose. But whar is it? I'll bet yer that i